Independent Election Observers Prepare to Monitor Timor’s Presidential Run-off

PRLog (Press Release) - May 07, 2007 -
Solidarity Observer Mission for East Timor (SOMET)

Contact:      Dili: Jill Sternberg or Catharina Maria
  +670-331-3324 or +670-734-2535 or +670-734-2397

International: John M. Miller, +1-718-596-7668; +1-917-690-4391;

Media Release

Independent Election Observers Prepare to Monitor Timor-Leste’s Presidential Run-off


For Immediate Release: 7 May 2007

On Wednesday, May 9, the Solidarity Observer Mission for East Timor (SOMET) will dispatch nearly two dozen nonpartisan observers to polling stations throughout Timor-Leste to monitor the presidential run-off election.

One month after the first round of the presidential elections, Timor-Leste’s voters will go to the polls to choose their next President in a run-off election. SOMET’s accredited observers plan to monitor the voting and tabulation in the districts of Ainaro, Baucau, Dili, Ermera, Lautem, Liquica, Manatuto, and Viqueque

SOMET monitored and reported on the first round of the Presidential Elections held April 9. SOMET’s report on the first round of presidential voting and other information can be found online at http://etan.org/somet.htm.


SOMET is a grassroots project the U.S.-based East Timor and Indonesia Action Network, VOT (Stichting Vrij Oost Timor) in the Netherlands, APSOC (Asia Pacific Solidarity Coalition) and WFDA (World Forum for Democratization in Asia).

SOMET was formed at the invitation of civil society organizations in Timor-Leste to support an election process which is transparent, free and fair. SOMET has partnered with nonpartisan East Timorese and other international observers, reporting on the election process -- paying special attention to civic education, vote casting and counting, and reactions to the results. In Timor-Leste, SOMET cooperates with Asosiasaun HAK, Timor-Leste NGO Forum, La’o Hamutuk, FOKUPERS and Bibi Bulak.

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